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Faction Paradox: Of the City of the Saved... (Faction Paradox, #2)
Faction Paradox: Of the City of the Saved... (Faction Paradox, #2)
Philip Purser-Hallard | 2004 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I didn't finish the book, but as you can only either list your books as "Want-To Read", "Currently Reading" or "Read", I went with the latter choice, as it was the only that seemed to fit even remotely. So, my review..

I try to keep an open mind for most things - meeting new people, going to see a movie or checking out a new TV series, or even when starting a new book. This book came highly recommended, the highest recommendation coming from Faction Paradox creator, Lawrence Miles. So, without even cracking the book open, it already had high expectations thrust upon it.

After five attempts at reading it, I gave up tonight! The book bored me unbelievably! Things got to be so bad that I used to help me to get to sleep the last 2 re-reading attempts.

I felt there was just too much going on, with a difficult to really get a feel for *any* of the characters in the first quarter I trudged through. After devouring Miles' FP debut novel, 'This Town Will Not Let Us Go', I thought this would be just as good; sadly, not so much.
  
Edge (Immortals of Indriel #1.5)
Edge (Immortals of Indriel #1.5)
Melissa A. Craven | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
After reading Emerge I immediately went online to see if Book 2 had been released yet. Instead, I found Edge which is the prequel novella which gives a glimpse of Allie and Aidan's lives before they met. There is a bit of an overlap in time between the prequel and the main story, which helps to tighten up the story, give more depth to the characters (which were already in-depth anyway) and also helps understand the reasons and objectives behind some of the decisions made in the other book.

I loved Allie and Aidan in the full-length book, but reading these insights into them and their lives just makes me love them all the more. This is a story, and series, to get your teeth into and I have loved every moment.

I'm afraid that I now have to stalk Melissa A Craven until I find out when the next book is due out! Absolutely, definitely and completely recommended.

* I bought this book from Amazon after being unable to leave Allie and Aidan behind. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 10, 2015
  
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Once Upon a Winter's Night (Faery, #1)
Dennis L. McKiernan | 2002 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Makes you think (2 more)
Vocabulary
Riddles
But of a mary sue (1 more)
Sometimes drags
This is a good book based on a Norse fairytale. The main character is a bit of a Mary Sue. But it does have some deep subject matter. I'd file it as a winter book. Makes you think and can challenge some views.
The book can be somewhat draggy, as an epic fiction it's alright and doesn't kill itself in. Purple prose.
It's a good book if you want to expand your vocabulary or have High School assignments that are like "pick a book and write the sentence when it uses a word you don't know." Or was that just my english class? Anyway, I'd say it's good for ages 14 and up if they are tired of the kids section and not ready for the bloody. hardcore adult or too snooty (or hate the love triangles) for the ya fantasy. Its pretty easy to follow so if you want to put your toe in for epic fantasy but aren't sure if you want to start you can start here. It's part of a series but can be read alone.
  
Charred
Charred
GP Gottlieb | 2023 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Will Alene Get Charred During the Pandemic’s Early Days?
This book opens in May 2020 and finds Alene Baron trying to keep her café in Chicago opened with a reduced staff and takeout or delivery only. Things are complicated when her long lost uncle returns to town and wants to connect with his brother, Alene’s father. Oh, and there are bodies turning up in burned out buildings owned by Alene’s best friend’s husband.

Since this is the third book in the series, I like the characters. That helped me get on board with the story that is truly the main story in the book, not the mystery that you’d expect in a culinary cozy. While I enjoyed the real main story, that backwards emphasis bothered me, especially how the story of the burned out buildings was resolved. I’m not sure I was ready to read a book set during the pandemic, but the book does a good job of capturing how everyone was feeling about life then. However, it introduces the riots before the event that triggered them happened in real life. The end result was only average.
  
Fumbled Hearts (Tennessee U #2)
Fumbled Hearts (Tennessee U #2)
Denver Shaw | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
FUMBLED HEARTS is the second book in the Tennessee U series, but the first one I have read. This in no way impacted my enjoyment of this book, although I now really want to read book one!

Maddox and Ethan are both struggling for different reasons. Enough information is given at the beginning that you understand the problem without it being an info dump. The complexities of the problems are gradually revealed over time, showing how both of them are desperate to succeed for whatever reason.

I thought the two of them were incredibly sweet together, as well as being hot! Maddox's nail varnish fetish made me laugh, I loved how it was incorporated into the ending. The epilogue was absolutely perfect, showing their stories and also how Maddox is dealing with what he went through. Heartbreaking and joyful at the same time.

A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending!

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 5, 2023
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Feb 3, 2023 (Updated Feb 3, 2023)  
It's cover reveal time! I've got the amazing cover for Anita Dickason's new mystery book, MURDER'S LEGACY on my blog today! You can also watch the book trailer, pre-order the book, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a Tori Winters series tote bag and a cute personalized mug!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2023/02/cover-reveal-pre-order-book-blitz-and.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Secrets that defy time!

An inconceivable disaster brings Tori Winters’ plans for the historic house she inherited to a traumatic standstill. A section of the escape tunnel built by her great-grandfather, a notorious Dallas gangster, has collapsed. Within the rubble, there is a gruesome discovery. A skeleton with a bullet hole in the skull.

The shocking cave-in triggers an ominous scheme to condemn her property as accusations arise that the tunnel is dangerous.

Embattled, Tori soon discovers that more than the destruction of the house is on the line. It seems she can’t escape the past. It keeps clawing its way into her life with deadly consequences.

Who hides in the shadows with a motive for murder?

And … is Tori the target?
     
Dorothy Must Die
Dorothy Must Die
Danielle Paige | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
2
7.8 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
the description of OZ (2 more)
The cowardly lion
the rest if the original gang
the plot just went in circles (2 more)
no real heroes
never really found it's footing
Not so Wonderful Oz (read in 2014)
This book had so much potential to be really amazing and different but in the end it just fell short. The characters were bland and the plot just felt like it was going around in circles trying to find a point where the real plot could take off. I know this is the first in the series so I am holding out a little hope that maybe the second book will be better.

The only thing I really liked was the description of OZ and it's more horror induced characters. I feel like this has more potential to be a good TV show or movie over a book.
  
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AbmostFiction (32 KP) Jul 23, 2017

That's disappointing!

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BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) Jul 23, 2017

Yeah I was really let down but I do want to give the next book a chance at some point.

Slayer (Slayer #1)
Slayer (Slayer #1)
Kiersten White | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
7
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
As someone who grew up watching and loving Buffy and the spin off series Angel. I also re-watched it about 4 years ago when it was on Netflix so I'm very tied to the Buffyverse. This book definitely kept the Buffy humor which is so it's own brand and it was on point so that contributes to the higher rating. I feel the last 1/4 of the book really picked up as well by the end I was left wanting the next book to come. The first half of the story kind of leaves Buffy as the villian and (for good reasons in Nina's view) that just did not sit well with me. Otherwise, I believe the writting was great and the Buffyverse was left in all it's glory and so well reserved by Kiersten.
  
Legendary: Caraval Book 2
Legendary: Caraval Book 2
Stephanie Garber | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.4 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Nice follow up
This is the second book in the Caraval series, and its told from Tella's point of view. Tella is a lot different from Scarlett. She is reckless, bold, and more willing to take risks. This made her a more interesting character than Scarlett, however sometimes her actions were flat out stupid. I think at times her reckless personality is just an excuse to justify bad decisions.
I also didn't like how little Scarlett is actually in this book. A lot of things were going on that she could have helped with, but instead she was reduced to an unimportant side character.
Despite this I did really enjoy the book, and I am looking forward to the next one. I hope both of the sisters play a large role in the story going forward.
  
The Rosie Result
The Rosie Result
Graeme Simsion | 2019 | Contemporary, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I learnt a lot about Autism from this book
I absolutely loved this story. It is very thought provoking and I learnt a lot specifically about autism. I love this whole family (Rosie, Hudson and Don), Hudson is such a sweet little boy he had my heart.

It is a beautifully written story. Towards the end of the book there is a part that nearly had me bawling my eyes out, Hudsons speech. Book three in the series, but is this the end? Maybe, as it wraps up it all up at the end pretty well no cliffhanger but we will have to wait and see. Parts had me laughing… An uplifting, inspiring story. I enjoyed every minute of it.

I awarded a well deserved four stars and highly recommend. A brilliant read. Eye opener. Page turner. Full of facts. Hard to forget.